Anyone had Implant removed and/ or replaced ?

I had mine replaced and the second op was much easier, I healed much quicker and I only had a tiny amount of seroma compared to the first time.

back in 40 mins

xxxxx

Carolyn

Hi. I am scheduled to have my silicone implants replaced on Wednesday. I had bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction in Sep 14, one of my implants appears to have rotated (teardrop shape) and I have got some capsular contracture. My surgeon is going to replace with round implants so it won't matter if they rotate. I have seriously considered just having them removed and not replaced as they really are uncomfortable, but I don't think emotionally I can handle being flat just yet, I admire the courage of the ladies on here that do. 

My surgeon has said she will do this as a day case and hopefully no drains this time. She has warned me about the risk of infection and losing implants altogether, but I guess they have to prepare you for worst case scenario. 

I have had to wait for over three months for this surgery since we made this decision as of course it is cosmetic and non urgent. 

I only had one tumour 11mm, but 73mm DCIS discovered after mastectomy when breast tissue biopsied. 

Hi HDSurvivor 

Thanks for replying.

I didn't realise it was just a day case, that's great and no drains even better. I have the capsular contraction too.

Round ones sound like a good idea.

Will think of you on Wednesday and send you positive vibes.

Let me know how you are. Surgeon sounds great so you are in good hands.

Dulcie xx

Thanks Carolyn that's really encouraging  , glad all is well now.

Could you go straight back to work ?

Dulcie

I'm sort of self employed so I took a few days off but it was fine, I was still recovering from chemotherapy so that's my overriding memory, it was and still is a major undertaking to get back to some sort of normality, the new fake boob was the least of my concerns

Xxx

Carolyn 

I'm a sad case I'm afraid. I had an implant but some months later, during chemo, became extremely ill which included putting on over 10kg of fluid, including in my new boob. Eventually all the fluid went, except there so I ended up with a C cup on one side and a football on the other. Non-surgical efforts to resolve the problem didn't work as it turned out I had "septation" which means I'd basically grown fibres in the fluid so it was like a wet sponge rather than a water filled balloon. Long discussion with my surgeon but in the end I opted for a complete mastectomy as she couldn't guarantee that it wouldn't happen again - obviously I'm a fluidy person (I had my drain in for 13 weeks after the first op). Have to say I don't regret it at all. If anything, I regret not having a full mastectomy in the beginning. However, it is now 8 months since the second surgery and I still have a seroma that I have to get drained about once a month - definitely a fluidy person - but at least I don't have a football on my chest.

Best

Lynn

Hi Isingbass. Sorry to hear you've had trouble with your implant. I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with implants April 2015. I didn't need radiotherapy but did have chemotherapy, unexpectedly, due to the final histology report. 

During chemotherapy I developed abscesses and ulcers down one side of my right implant under my arm. The ulcers broke down and the resultant holes in my skin exposed the implant so I had dressings on for months and months until I finished treatment. I then had the implant removed in October 2015 and had nothing replaced for 9 months to allow everything to settle down. In July this year I had an expander put in place which has been gradually filled with saline and has expanded really well, in my humble opinion! Later today I am seeing my surgeon about the next stage of swapping the expander for an implant. I did get used to being flat on one side but didn't like it I have to say. Hope I don't have to wait too many months for my next op although I do realise that this is non urgent unlike the original op!

Good luck to you, Love Debbie xx

Hi there

I've had a similar experience to Lynn - I had a mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using an implant and bovine strattice mesh in February 2015. Initially all appeared well apart from lots of pain and bizarre sensation which I was told would settle.

 I had chemotherapy for six months (no radiotherapy as sentinel node biopsy showed no evidence of spread) during which the pain in my boob got increasingly severe and eventually it all began to go horribly mottled and purple looking too.  My surgeon did not seem to know what was wrong or what to do about it- had loads of appointments with him during chemo as well as being referred to another plastic surgeon after finishing chemo, who took my discomfort much more seriously. Anyway, whilst they were trying to decide the best course of action my (previously healed) scar just popped open one Sunday afternoon in November (9 months after the initial surgery) and loads of fluid drained out along with part of the implant and mesh. I took myself off to hospital with the remains of the reconstruction held in a bath towel and had the whole lot removed that night. 

To be honest it was such a relief to no longer have the weight and discomfort of the implant inside my skin and I was home in a couple of days feeling in less pain than I'd had since the beginning of that year. My only regret is that I put myself through all that pain along with the difficulties of chemo. I had my first surgery like a rabbit in the headlights- just wanted it over with and to feel "normal" again. The reconstruction felt no more like it belonged to me than a prosthesis in my bra does and wasn't anywhere near a match for my remaining breast, being always much larger and heavier.

I changed my surgeon afterwards as I felt I couldn't have any faith in a man who smiled and said it couldn't happen when I told him I felt as though my breast was going to burst! (Which is exactly what happened). I was pretty traumatised by the whole thing but mostly because I wasn't listened to when I knew something was terribly wrong. No way would I have another reconstruction after my experience- but I do know women who've done absolutely fine with them-  I just want to get on with living as I am. 

I hope you do well with whatever you decide to do and that you've got a kind and caring surgeon and BCN to help you.  Having reconstruction is certainly not all plain sailing even when all goes well- and I've found being flat on one side much less traumatic than I'd initially thought although it does look a bit odd unclothed!

All the very best

Gilly xx

Hi I'm sorry to hear about your problems. I had bilateral mastectomy with expanders then implants in 2014. I have just started to experience stabbing pains in the breast which had cancer along with dull aches into my back and shoulder. Has anyone had these symptoms and what happened?

Thanks in advance. X

Hi Dulcie,

Yes, I was really surprised when she said she would do it as a day case, I guess that will depend on how well I am immediately after the op, my blood pressure has a tendency to drop very low after anaesthetic, so we will see. I am half expecting drains as I had them in last time for about 11 days, and probably had them removed as bit too hastily, I think I will be more patient with them this time if I do need them. My surgeon is great, so I thank myself very lucky there.

I will let you know how it all goes.

Wendy xx